Seeder drive arrangement



y 6, 1952 c. w. WALZ ETAL 2,596,060

SEEDER DRIVE ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 24, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS CLAUDE W. WALZN y 6, 1952 c. w. WALZ ET AL SEEDER DRIVE ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1946 IN VEN TOR! CLAUDE W. WALZ May 6, 1952 c. w. WALZ ETIAL 'SEEDER DRIVE ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5

. INVENTORS LRI-bUDhE W Filed Jan. 24, 1946 Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE SEEDER DRIVE ARRANGEMENT Claude W. Walz, Rock Island, and Howard F.

Clausen, Moline, 111., assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 24, 1946, Serial No. 643,016

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and more particularly to planters and the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a towed planter or similar implement especially constructed and arranged for planting in a plurality of relatively closely spaced rows, as is desirable when planting beets, beans, and other crops. A further feature of this invention is the provision of a planter in which there are a plurality of independently shiftable planting units connected with the main frame of the planter along its forward part, with ground wheels supporting the main frame, and with the planting units, ground wheels, and other parts arranged for transverse adjustment along the frame so a to provide for varying the row spacing. More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide an implement of this (kind in which the seed cans can be carried in a low position, one on each of the planting units, with the result that the seed passages from the seed dispensing mechanisms into the furrows may be made quite short. This materially improves the accuracy of planting, especially in the case of seeds that are very light, such as sugar beet seed.

Additionally, it is another feature of this invention to provide improved wheel frames for the ground wheels of the implement, so constructed and arranged as to provide for adequate support of the frame on the wheels but without interfering with any of the parts of the planting units, even in their most narrow setting. It is .a further feature of this invention to provide improved" operating and controlling connections between the ground wheels of the planter and the drive shaft for the several seeding units, and it is a further feature of this invention to provide for fertilizer dispensers, with new and improved driving and control connections for the latter, said driving connections being driven from a Jackshaft that is carried by the planter generally above the ground wheels of the implement and driven from the latter.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the preferred form of the present invention has been illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the major portion of a planter in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated;

Figure 2 is a view taken generally along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the drive for the seeding shaft and portions of the associated parts;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at an enlarged scale generally along the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view showing the marker actuating and controlling mechanism; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken generally along the line 6-6 of Figure 1, showing a portion of the drive gearing.

Referring now to the drawings, more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the main frame of the planter is indicated by the reference numeral I and comprises a front transverse frame bar 2, preferably in the form of an angle, and a rear transverse frame bar 3, also preferably in the form of an angle, connected together by longitudinally extending cross bars 4 at the ends of the frame I and by wheel frames and a power lift unit frame, referred to below in detail. As best shown in Figure 2, the front transverse frame bar 2 is materially lower than the rear transverse frame bar 3 so that, considering the frame I as a whole, it is disposed in a generally downwardly and forwardly extending plane. The frame I is supported on a pair of ground wheels 1, disposed between the ends of the frame 1. Each ground wheel 1 is mounted on an axle 8 (Figure 1) secured to a wheel frame 9. The latter unit comprises a pair of laterally spaced bars H and I? connected together at their forward endsby an angle 13 to the vertical upwardly extending flange M of which the forward ends of the bars l1 and 12 are welded. The horizontal flange 15 of the angle 13 is secured, as by bolts 1-6, to the front frame angle 2, the latter having a plurality of openings to receive the bolts 16 in different positions-of .lateral adjustment. Each of the bars II and 12 making up each wheel frame 9 includes a horizontal section I8 (Figure 2) a vertical section 19 and an upwardly and rearwardly extending section 21, each of the section 2: of the two frame bars II and i2 being secured, as by welding or the like, to the-downwardly extending flange of an attachment angle 23 that is bolted t the rearwardly extending horizontal flange of the rear frame angle 3. In general, each of the wheel frame bars ll and i2 constitutes an L- shaped member having a horizontal forward section which is disposed generally in the plane of the lower front frame angle 2, these forward portions being disposed so as to clear the adjacent seed cans of the planting units, as will be explained in detail below. The frame I also includes centrally thereof a power lift frame unit indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 26 and comprising an angle 21 secured, as by welding, to the front frame angle 2 and bolted or otherwise fastened to the rear frame angle 3. The unit 26 includes a right hand frame member 28, preferably in the form of a strap member also welded at its front end to the frame angle 2 and bolted or otherwise fastened to the rear frame angle 3. The angle 2'Iincludes a laterally offset section 29 so as to make the unit 26 as narrow as possible in order to clear the adjacent seed can, especially in the narrow setting of the planting units, as will be referred to below in detail.

As best shown in Figure 2, the axles 8 are connected with the wheel frame bars I I and I2 just above the junction of the horizontal front section portion 33 to which a bracket plate 34 is welded.

The plate 34 receives a casting 35 which carries or supports a pair of bearing units 36 and 31 in which the adjacent ends of a pair of shafts 39 and 4| are supported. The shaft sections 39 and 4|, together with associated parts, form a jackshaft or drive shaft unit 46 which is driven from the two ground wheels I. To this end, the laterally outer bars II of the two wheel frame units 9 carry an upwardly extending bracket to the upper end of which a bearing unit 46 is connected, the right hand bearing unit 46 receiving the outer end of the shaft section 39 and the left hand bearin'g unit (not shown) receiving and supporting the left hand shaft section M. A sprocket 41 is connected to be rotated by each of the wheels 'I and receives a driving chain 48 which at its upper end is trained over a sprocket 49 fixed to the outer end portion of the associated shaft section, 39 or 4 I. The sprocket 49 and the journal 46 slidingly receive the associated shaft section, each shaft section having a flattened portion 5| with which cooperate mating portions on the sprocket 49, whereby to establish the desired driving relation indifferent positions of lateral adjustment of the wheel frame and wheel. Secured to the adjacent inner ends of the two shaft sections 39 and 4| is a pair of differential gears 53 and 54, each being fixed to the associated shaft section and meshing with a pair of differential pinions 55 and 56 (Figure 6). The pinions 55 and 56 are mounted on studs 51 carried by or forming a part of a differential case 58 having bearing extensions which are supported in the journals 36 and 31. As best shown in Figure 6, the differential case 58 includes a yoke section receiving the gears 53, 54, 55 and 56, and the bearing section 6| (Figure 6) that is supported in the bearing 36 is extended laterally, as at 62, and at its right end is supported in a bearing 63 carried at the upper end of the vertical section 32 of the differential supporting yoke 3|. The section 62 is ribbed, as at 64, to provide means for drivingly receiving a plurality of sprocket gears, as will be referred to below. Since the right hand ground wheel 1 drives the shaft section 39 and the left hand ground wheel (not shown) drives the left 4 hand shaft section 4|, it will be seen that the differential case 58 constitutes a member driven differentially from the ground wheels and forms a convenient means by which the drive to the power lift; the fertilizer dispensing mechanisms and the seeding units may be accomplished.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the right hand planting units are indicated by the reference numeral II and the left hand planting units by the reference numeral I2. Each planting unit includes a seed-fertilizer boot casting I5 having apertured lug sections to receive the rear ends of upper and lower link members I6 and TI. The upper and lower link members are pivotally connected, as at I8 and I9, respectively, to the boot I5, and at their forward ends the link members I6 and I! are pivoted, as at 8| and 82, to the upper and lower portions, respectively, of a drawbar bracket 83. As best shown in Figure 1, the upper link member 76 comprises a pair of straps 85 and 86 rigidly connected together and at their forward ends pivoted, as at 81, to lateral portions of the associated bracket 83. The latter also supports, as by bearing sections 86, a transverse seeding shaft 89 which extends the length of the main frame. By means of pairs of bevel gears, the seed dispensing drive shaft sections.

6| of the several planting units are driven from the seeding shaft 89; Each of the lower link members I! comprises lower strap-s 93 and 94 suitably connected together and at their forward ends pivotally connected, as at 82, to the lower portion of the associated bracket 83. The brackets 83 may be shifted to dilferent lateral positions along the frame bars 2 and to this end the latter are provided with a plurality of openings to receive bolts 96 or the like by which the brackets 83 may be fixed to the frame bar 2 in any selected position.

Each seed fertilizer boot I5 is provided with a pair of disk furrow openers I6I journaled thereon in any suitable manner, and each boot I5 also carries a seed can I62 in the lower portion of which a seed dispensing means I63 is disposed and is driven by means including gearing I64 (Figure 2) establishing a connection between the seed dispensing mechanism and the drive shaft 9|. Each of the seed-fertilizer boots I5 is provided with a fertilizer passageway I61 and, rearwardly thereof, a bracket I68 which may, where desirable or necessary, receive an auxiliary fertilizer conduit I69 to which a separate fertilizer furrow opener III may be secured. Either of the fertilizer conduits I61 and I69 may receive a fertilizer tube, depending on whether it is desired to deposit the fertilizer in the furrow opened by the seed furrow openers I6| or in a separate furrow opened by the tool III. Seed from the seed can I62 is delivered into the furrow opened by the disks IOIby any suitable means. The separate fertilizer conduit I69 has a rear apertured lug II3 which receives a bracket or plate II4 to which coverers II5 may be connected, as

by bolts I I6. The latter also receive plates I I8 to brackets I26 carried by the rear frame angle 8. To this end, the rockshaft I25 is provided with a plurality of arms I21 having rear bifurcated ends I28 which receive a swivel I29 through which a lift rod I8I is disposed. A coil spring I32 is disposed about the rod I3I below the swivel I29 and at its lower end bears against the central portion of an inverted U-shaped yoke member I33 pivoted, as at I34, to the press wheel frame I20. The rod I3I at its lower end passes through an opening in the central portion of the associated yoke I39 and has a collar, head or the like (not shown) by which the planting unit may be raised by lifting upwardly on the rod I3I. At its upper end each of the rods I3I carries a set screw collar I31 so that when the rockshaft I25 is rocked forwardly, all of the arms I21 are raised and the swivel member I29 carried by each arm comes into contact with the set screw collar I81 on the associated lift rod I3I, whereby further upward movement of the arms I21 serves to raise all of the planting units. The mechanism for rocking the rockshaft I25 will be described later.

Mounted on the centrally disposed frame unit 25 is a power lift unit I45 which is substantially the same as the power lift unit disclosed and claimed in the United States Patent No. 2,376,464, issued May 22, 1945 to Charles H. White, to which reference may be made if necessary. Briefly, the power lift unit comprises a self-interrupting clutch and an operating linkage constructed in the form of a Whitworth quick return motion. The self-interrupting clutch is indicated at I46 and comprises a driving member I41, a driven member in the form of a crank I50 rotatable about the axis of the driving member I41 and including a slide I48 which operates along a gen erally vertically extending arm I49 fixed at its lower end to a shaft I5I (Figures 1 and 2) which is carried in a U-shaped sub-frame I53 generally below the frame bars 21 and 28 and Welded at its forward end portions or otherwise secured to the front frame angle 2. The driving and driven members I41 and I50 are mounted for rotation about a shaft I54, the right end of which is fixed, as by a nut or the like, to a lug I 54a on the right hand frame member 29. A trip lever I55, to which a cable I56 that extends to the operators station on the tractor is connected, serves to control the operation of the self-interrupting clutch I 46. The driving member I41 of the clutch is driven by a sprocket chain I51 which, as best shown in Figure 2, is trained over an idler I50 supported adjustably by a bracket I59 fixed to the frame bar 21. At its rear end the sprocket chain I51 is trained over the smaller gear IBI (Figure 6) of a compound sprocket member I 62, shown as incorporating three sprocket gears. The member IE2 is supported adjustably along the ribbed portion 64 of the differential driving sleeve 62 and may be locked in place by a set screw I 63 or other suitable means. As mentioned above, the sleeve 62 is driven from the two ground wheels supporting the planter frame, through the drive shaft sections 36 and 4| and the associated differential gearing described above. As best shown in Figure '1, a chain I is disposed over the large section I1I (Figure6) of the compound sprocket gear member I62, and the lower end of the chain I10 is trained over a small sprocket section I13 of a compound sprocket gear member I14 that is mounted rotatably on a sleeve I carried by the central portion of the seeding shaft 89. The gear member I14 is shiftable along the sleeve member I15 and its driving connection-therewith iscontrolled by a clutch I 16, and the clutch I16 is controlled by a rockable cam arm I 11. The compound sprocket gear member I14 also includes an intermediate size sprocket I18 and a large size sprocket I19, either of which may also receive the seeding shaft drive chain I10. The cam member I11 cooperates with a stationary cam member I held against rotation in any suitable way, as by contacting the angle 2 or some other part of the planter frame.

The unit I14, together with the clutch I16 and other parts, may be disposed in different positions laterally along the seeding shaft 89 so as to bring the desired sprocket member, I13, I18 or I19, into the plane of the chain I10, as shown in Figure 1. Likewise, the gear member I62 may be shifted on the sleeve 62 laterally in one direction or the other so as to bring either the large sprocket section IN, the small sprocket section I6I, or an intermediate sprocket section I8I into the plane of the chain I10 (Figure 1) so as to provide for connecting the chain I10 between the drive shaft 40 and the seeding shaft 89 to provide nine different speeds. When the unit I62 is shifted so as to bring the smaller gear I6I into a position to receive the chain I10, an auxiliary sprocket member I82 (Figure 1) is slid over' into the plane of the power unit drive chain I51, the latter being taken off the sprocket I6I under the conditions justmentioned and engaged with the auxiliary sprocket I82.

By virtue of arranging the sprocket members I62, I 14 and I82 so that the different drives may be provided for without shifting the chains I10 and I51 from their planes of operation, as shown in Figure 1, the power unit I45 may be left in its position and, moreover, the planter units may be brought fairly close together so as to provide for narrow row spacing, without having the cans interfere with the chains or vice versa. It will be understood that rocking the cam arm I11 forwardly will disengage the clutch I16 and rocking the arm I11 rearwardly will cause the clutch I16 to engage. A clutch construction of this kind is largely conventional.

A plurality of fertilizer units I9I are provided, each including a fertilizer can I92 supported on a base I93 (Figure 4) which is hinged, as at I95, to a supporting bracket I96 which is fixed in any suitable manner to the rear frame angle 3. The brackets I96 are provided with bearing sections I91 which are in alignment when the fertilizer units are mounted on the planter frame, and a through fertilizer drive shaft I98 is received and supported by the several bearing sections I91. The fertilizer shaft I98 carries a plurality of pinions, one for each of the fertilizer units I9I, each unit having a fertilizer distributor drive gear I99 which is driven by the associated drive pinion on the shaft I518. The fertilizer drive shaft I98 is driven from the drive shaft 40' by a chain 20I trained at its forward end over a sprocket member 203 fixed to the differentially driven member 62. At its rear end the fertilizer drive chain 20I is trained over a sprocket 202 which is connectible to and disconnectible from the fertilizer drive shaft I98 by clutch means 205 under the control of a cam arm 206'. The clutch and cam control therefor is substantially the same as the clutch mechanism I16 and associated parts mentioned above. The arm 206 extends generally downwardly and is connected to the rear end of a longitudinally extending actuating link 201 (Figure 2) which at its forward end is connected, as at20'8, to the upper end of an arm to the rockshaft 209 which is secured, as by welding or the like, to the right end of the shaft II, the left end of which is fixed to the power lift clutch device I45. A forward link 2 is connected at its rear end to the pivot 208 that connects the front end of the link 291 to the arm 209, and the front end of the link 2 I I is connected to the upper end of the upwardly extending cam arm I11 that controls the seeding shaft clutch I16. The upper end of the power lift actuated arm I49 carries a pivot 2I2 (Figure 1) by which the forward and laterally bent end of a longitudinally extending link 2I3 is connected thereto. The rear end of the link 2 I3 is connected by a pivot 2 I4 (Figures 7 1 and 2) carried onan adjusting arm 2I5 (Figure 4) pivoted, as at 2IG to an arm 2" that is fixed I25. A crank screw 22I is threaded through a block 222 that is fixed to the arm 2 I1, and the forward end of the crank screw 22I is connected by a yoke 223 to the adjusting arm 2 I 5, theend of the crank screw being rotatable in the yoke 223 so that by turning the crank screw the position of the adjustable arm 2I5 relative to the rockshaft arm 2" may be varied, as desired. Since the power lift device I45 operates to swing the arm I49 through a given or predetermined stroke, it will be seen that fore and aft movement of the upper end of the arm I49 acts through the arm 2 I1 and adjustable arm 2I5 to rock the rockshaft I25 and thus raise and lower the tools. By turning the crank screw 22I when the arm I49 is in its lowered or operating position, as shown in Figure 2, the amount of pressure exerted downwardly through the springs I32 by the several arms I21 may be varied or adjusted as desired;

As best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, at each end of the rear frame angle 3 there is a depending marker arm supporting bracket 23I fixed at its upper end in any suitable manner, as by welding, to the angle 3. At its lower end, each of the marker arm brackets 23I receives a pivot pin 232 on which thelower or inner end of a marker arm 233 is pivotally received. Each marker arm 233 includes a channel member 234 and an adjustable shaft section 235, at the outer end of which a marker disk 236 is journaled, as by a journal bracket 231 (Figure 2). The marker arm is reenforced by a diagonally extending rod 238 (Figure 2) pivotally connected at its forward or inner end, as at 239, to the end of the front frame angle 2. Each marker arm carries a detent bracket 242 having a notch portion which receives the outer end of a detent 245 pivoted, as at 246, to an angle bracket 241 welded or otherwise fixed to the adjacent marker arm standard 23 I An operating arm 248 forms a part of the detent 245 and receives the outer end of a latch operating rod 25I that extends laterally inwardly. Each of the latch controlling rods 25I is operated by a latch control unit 253 which is substantially the same as the corresponding latch control unit shown in the above-identified White patent. According to the present invention, the latch control unit 253 is supported on a bracket 255 mounted on the underside of the angle 3, being secured thereto,

as by welding or the like. Since the latch control unit 253 is the same as the latch control unit of the above-identified White patent, it is unnecessary to describe the details of this unit. It therefore sufiices to note that by virtue of this unit the oscillations of a latch control rod member 251 (Figures 1 and 2) when moved forward and then back to the position shown in Figure 1, serves to permit the detent 245 at one side of the planter to hold the associated marker arm in an elevated position and at the other side of-the planter to move that detent out of arm-holdin position so that that arm may be lowered into operation. However, the arms 233 are raised and lowered concomitantly with the raising and lowering of the planting units H, and to this end a chain 26l is connected at its outer end, as by a hook 262, to the bracket 242 on each marker arm. The chain 26I extends inwardly, passing over an associated sheave 263 supported on the bracket 255 and passes forwardly, as indicated in Figure 1, where it passes around a sheave 265 carried by a yoke 266 and is joined to and forms a part of the chain section 2630!, that extends to the other marker arm. The yoke 266 is connected to the rear end of a marker operating rod269 (Figure 1) that is connected, as at 21I (Figure 2), to the power operated arm I5I. The forward end of the latch control rod 251 carries a pair of stops 215 and 216 on opposite sides of an apertured lug 211 which is fixed to the forward end of the link 2I3 so as to be operated whenever the arm I5I and the link 2I3 are operated by the clutch I45. Thus, whenever the arm I5! is shifted forwardly from the position shown in Figure 2, a pull is exerted through the link 2I3 to rock the rockshaft I25 and raise the planting units H, and at the same time a pull is exerted through the rod 269 and the chains 263 to raise both of the markers. Also, a forward pull is exerted through the rod 251, which serves to permit one of the marker arm latches or detents 245 to engage the associated marker arm 233 and lock it in its raised position, positively disengaging the other marker arm latch or detent 245 so that when the arm I5l is subsequently moved rearwardly to lower the tools the marker arm whose detent is held in a released position lowers into an operating position while the other marker arm is held in a raised or inoperative position. This is substantially the action of the marker control mechanism shown in the above-identified White patent.

It will be noted, particularly from Figure 1, that where the planting, units H are spaced fairly close together, the disposition of the drive shaft 40 and the vertical drive chains 48 in the position rearwardly of the seed cans I02 accommodates a close spacing of the latter and, looking at Figure 2, it will be seen that the wheel frame bars I I and I2 are placed in a low down position, the portions I8 thereof actually passing under the adjacent parts of the seed cans I02. It will also be noted from Figure 1 that the link 201, extending between the actuating arm 209 (Figure 2) and the fertilizer drive shaft controlling clutch arm 206, is offset laterally inwardly, as indicated at 201a in Figure 1, so as to provide adequate clearance for the adjacent seed can I02. It will also be noted from Figure 1 that the fertilizer can I9I adjacent the clutch 205 is disposed in a slightly laterally outwardly offset position so as to prevent interference between the lower portion of the fertilizer can I9I and the sprocket 2102.

A fertilizer tube 340 leads downwardly from the fertilizer hopper bottom I93 and may be connected, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 into the fertilizer conduit I01 when it is desired to deposit the fertilizer in the same furrow with the seed. However, when it is desired to deposit the fertilizer in a separate furrow, preferably alongside but spaced from the seed furrow, the lower end of the fertilizer tube 340 is disposed in the auxiliary fertilizer spout section I09 (Figure 2).

While We have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, Widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of our invention.

What We claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a planter, a frame, a drive shaft mounted thereon adjacent the rear of the frame, a seeding shaft adjacent the front portion of the frame, a power lift clutch, a compound gear member mounted slidably on said drive shaft, a second compound gear member slidably mounted on said seeding shaft, an auxiliary gear member on said drive shaft adjacent said compound gear member thereon, said auxiliary gear member having the same diameter as the adjacent section of said second compound member, a drive chain trained over selected sections of said compound gear members for driving said seeding shaft from said drive shaft, each of said compound gear members being slidable on said shafts to accommodate engaging the drive chain with selected sections of said gear members While said drive chain remains in the same position relative to said frame, and a power lift drive chain for driving said power lift clutch and engageable with said auxilliary gear member when said first drive chain is engaged with said adjacent section.

CLAUDE W. WALZ.

HOWARD F. CLAUSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 661,502 Ditzler Nov. 13, 1900 693,584 Brunnemer Feb. 18, 1902 879,710 Wilkin Feb, 18, 1908 999,151 Butler July 25, 1911 1,019,038 Gilroy Mar. 5, 1912 1,045,624 Sorenson Nov. 26, 1912 1,290,090 Cole Jan. 7, 1919 1,363,786 Hey Dec. 28, 1920 1,429,280 Godfrey Sept, 19, 1922 1,452,286 Bozard et a1 Apr. 17, 1923 1,514,700 Harris Nov. 11, 1924 1,652,925 Berry Dec. 13, 1927 1,897,355 Altgelt Feb. 14, 1933 1,911,218 White May 30, 1933 1,944,381 Wamhoif Jan. 23, 1934 2,031,640 Geraldson Feb. 25, 1936 2,033,366 White Mar. 10, 1936 2,085,354 Erickson June 29, 1937 2,106,901 Rassmann Feb. 1, 1933 2,178,716 Botnen Nov. '7, 1939 2,311,993 Olsen Feb, 23, 1943 2,337,662 Johnson Dec. 28, 1943 2,339,689 Englund Jan. 18, 1944 2,368,134 Haas Jan. 30, 1945 2,376,464 White May 22, 1945 

